Hymn meter
Long Meter Double (8.8.8.8 D)
A hymn's meter counts the syllables in each line of a stanza. Long Meter Double (8.8.8.8 D) means each stanza has 8 lines of 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 and 8 syllables — 64 in all. Hymnals print the meter beside each text so that a congregation can sing the words to any tune with the same pattern.
Long Meter stretches every line to eight syllables, giving a steady, stately stanza. It is the meter of “Old Hundredth” and of the Doxology, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”, and many of the oldest Latin hymns were translated into it.
Below are the hymns in our library written in this meter and the public-domain tunes that fit them. Any text can be sung to any tune listed here; press play to hear a pairing.
Try any pairing
Pick the words, then choose a tune from the list in the player.
Loading the words…
Tunes in Long Meter Double (8.8.8.8 D)
9 hymns in Long Meter Double (8.8.8.8 D)
- Sweet Hour of Prayer — Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
- Of the Glory of God in the Starry Heavens — The spacious firmament on high,
- Saved By Grace — Some day the silver cord will break,
- Supreme Love to Christ — My gracious Redeemer I love;
- Longing For Still Closer Communion — Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine,
- The Heavenly Jerusalem — Away with our sorrow and fear!
- Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness — Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
- Longing After Christ — I long to behold him arrayed
- Faith Triumphing — A debtor to mercy alone,